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Anti Suicide Blue LEDs at Tokyo Rail stations

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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
in Our World, on the 2nd of December 2009
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A salaryman waits at a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 193433
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009

ID: 193431
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 193430
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls out of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 193429
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls out of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 193428
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls out of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 193427
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A Salaryman waits at a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 193426
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls out of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 193425
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train guard checks for passengers at a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 194985
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls into a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 194983
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls out of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 194981
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls into a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 194979
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls out of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shibuya, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195198
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train guard checks for passengers at a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195197
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A train pulls out of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195196
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

Passengers wait at a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195195
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

Passengers leave a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shibuya, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195194
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

Passengers get on a train at a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195193
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A salaryman runs for a train at a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195191
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JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

A Japanese salaryman waits on the platform of a JR (Japan Railways) station on the Yamanote Line where blue LED lights have been installed in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinbuya, Japan. 02/12/2009.

ID: 195207
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Blue LED lights have been installed at JR Yamanote line stations (Tokyo Loop line) in an effort to decrease suicides by jumping under trains.
Over 2,000 people jumped under trains in Japan in 2008, accounting for 6% of all suicides in the country. At a cost of 15 million yen, or $165,000 the blue lights have been installed on all 29 stations of the Yamanote Line.
The blue lights are meant to calm and soothe potential jumpers though there is little scientific evidence for this. Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world which the recent economic crisis has exacerbated.

(Shinjuku, Shibuya Stations, Tokyo, Japan 02/12/2009)

2009, 2009 colour image, Asia, asian, Blue LED, colour image, depression, economics, japan, japanese, Japanese suicide, Light emitting Diode, mental health, science, suicide, suicide prevention, tokyo, Tokyo railway station, Yamanote Line, Odd, Health Care, Mental Health , Our world, Society

Comment

Good point Andy, for full

Submitted by Damon Coulter on Fri, 04/12/2009 - 02:29.

Good point Andy, for full journalistic coverage I should put the cost of these lights in the story. Amended now. Thanks for the comments everyone, am out shooting some follow-up pictures as these were rather unplanned shots taken at the end of a long day on other projects and as I was literally stood under the lights on the way home. More, different shots coming soon. Damon

damn great story

Submitted by Danilo Peternek Damn Peternek on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 22:03.

damn great story

Thank you for sharing this

Submitted by Wais B on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 17:04.

Thank you for sharing this with us, it is incredible that such a device was invented.

Do you know how much these

Submitted by Andy Heath on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 09:47.

Do you know how much these cost? A well-written story. Thanks.

Great story.

Submitted by Turi Munthe on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 09:35.

Great story.

Interesting story.

Submitted by Matthew Richards on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 02:33.

Interesting story.

Posted by:

Damon is a Japan-based photographer and photojournalist who specializes in capturing emotive and erudite single images and sh... Read more.

JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.
JR (Japan Railways) installs Blue LED lights at Yamanote line stations in an effort to stem rising suicide rates in Japan. Shinjuku, Japan. 02/12/2009.

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